This week I joined this forum and these are pictures of my latest project: a Yamaha XS250 from 1979. The bike is a bit shabby and needs some TLC. She runs, but not very well. I think the carbs need cleaning. All the parts are there, some need replacing. My intention is to take her apart, replace all the rusty parts, polish and clean the rest, put her back together and make sure she looks good again. Somewhere along the line someone tried to steel the bike and the lock has been pulled out, but there is no further damage.
good score, a lock set shouldn't be too hard to find , keep an eye out for a XS250 or XS400 from that vintage I found a new one, but it is a bit exy https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Yamaha-...-XS400-Main-Switch-Original-new-/351989668542
Welcome to the forum. Same as an xs750 ignition set ? https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-K-L-Ig...ash=item540e58a3ed:g:PbAAAOSwxH1T5sMp&vxp=mtr This ignition switch is listed to suit an XS250 1982 down in the description, but it doesnt look like it's got the steering lock https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fY4AAOSw44BYmr~q/s-l500.jpg
I think the XS250/400/750 all had the same steering lock and there are plenty of them around. I am not so sure if it will be easy to replace the start button. At the moment she starts by connecting the loose wires.
The right switch block look's similar to the XS650 switch, https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs650-bar-switch-brake-side-black-76-78-oem-584-83963-00-00.html milesxs sells a start button too https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs650-button-with-spring-starter-horn-oem-27010-1009.html you may be able to make a good one using parts from both https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Yamaha-...570590?hash=item36105a0b5e:g:pVAAAOSw9GhYdaLn
That version looks nice. Never seen that style in NZ, pretty sure all the ones we got were the black "midnight special" styling. Many years back, I had one through the shop which had been owned from new by a clergyman. Did oil, filter, general tuneup and took it for a test ride. Slow as a wet week...Started looking it over back at the shop and drained the tank. Fuel only dribbled out so I thought, blocked filter. Pulled the tap and the filter's clean so looked at the tap itself. Only about a 2mm hole right through - so out with the drill. Back together and test again - much, much better. Handed it back and the qwner rode away. half an hour later we got a call "what did you do to this thing !! " Now fast enough to get the clergyman into trouble, LOL.
A lovely proportioned bike & dare I say it, but it's much nicer looking than the then period Honda's The earlier Honda CB250 -350's Were way more handsome. I had a 1973 Honda CB 350 twin, an awesome reliable bike, I also had several CB 350 fours, Very reliable bikes, lovely looking, a little under powered, but what a work of art. & then Honda produced that little awesome CB400 four, more power and an extra gear, An awesome little bike.